Muhammad Ali was born with the name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He started boxing when he was 12 years old after his bike was stolen and he told a police officer that he wanted to beat up the thief. That police officer turned out to be a boxing trainer who worked with Ali and helped start his career.
In 1960, Muhammad Ali traveled to Rome, Italy to compete in the Olympics. He won the gold medal for boxing and became an American hero. Throughout the 1960s, Ali dominated the boxing world and called himself "the greatest". He was very confident, and famously said he could, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.
In 1964, he joined the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, and officially changed his name to Muhammad Ali. In 1967, Ali refused to enlist in the military due to religious beliefs and had to go to court. Since he was found guilty, he was banned from boxing for three and a half years.
In 1971, Muhammad Ali boxed against Joe Frazier in what was called the "Fight of the Century". Ali lost to Frazier after 15 rounds but beat him later in another fight in 1974.
Muhammad Ali's career started going downhill in the late 1970s, and he eventually retired from boxing in 1981. Ali announced that he had Parkinson's Disease in 1984, and he has spent most of his money raising money for disease research ever since. In 2005, Muhammad Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush for his lifetime achievements and charity work.
Muhammad Ali was born with the name Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He started boxing when he was 12 years old after his bike was stolen and he told a police officer that he wanted to beat up the thief. That police officer turned out to be a boxing trainer who worked with Ali and helped start his career.
In 1960, Muhammad Ali traveled to Rome, Italy to compete in the Olympics. He won the gold medal for boxing and became an American hero. Throughout the 1960s, Ali dominated the boxing world and called himself "the greatest". He was very confident, and famously said he could, "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" in the boxing ring.
In 1964, he joined the black Muslim group, the Nation of Islam, and officially changed his name to Muhammad Ali. In 1967, Ali refused to enlist in the military due to religious beliefs and had to go to court. Since he was found guilty, he was banned from boxing for three and a half years.
In 1971, Muhammad Ali boxed against Joe Frazier in what was called the "Fight of the Century". Ali lost to Frazier after 15 rounds but beat him later in another fight in 1974.
Muhammad Ali's career started going downhill in the late 1970s, and he eventually retired from boxing in 1981. Ali announced that he had Parkinson's Disease in 1984, and he has spent most of his money raising money for disease research ever since. In 2005, Muhammad Ali received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bush for his lifetime achievements and charity work.